Late offensive production lifts Barton Baseball to series opening doubleheader sweep of No. 24 Cloud County #GoBarton

The Barton Community College baseball team got late offensive production Thursday afternoon sweeping No. 24 Cloud County Community College at Lawson-Biggs Field in the first two games of a four-game set with the T-Birds.

In the opener, the Cougar offense rallied back from a 4-2 deficit scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth to pick up a 6-4 victory. Trailing 4-0 in the nightcap, Barton scored seven unanswered highlighted behind the go-ahead three-run eighth inning to complete the comeback and doubleheader sweep, 7-5.

As the series shifts locations, Barton improves to 9-1 in league play and 16-4 overall while the T-Birds drop to 8-2 in conference and 19-7 overall. The final two-games of the four-game set will continue Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. from Lee Doyen Field in Concordia.

Game 1 Recap
The Cougars jetted out to a 2-0 lead after one inning, with Tyler Janssen's leadoff walk scoring on a passed ball and Ayden Hadley's one-out double-crossing home on John Connors two-out single.

Cloud County drew in front in the top of the third 3-2, as a pair of singles mixed between a walk loaded the bases with no-outs, creating a bases clearing three-run double by the reigning Jayhawk West conference player of the week Austin Coyle.

A leadoff double in the top of the sixth added to the T-Birds lead, scoring on a two-out RBI single.

Loading the bases with no outs in the sixth, Kyle Walker delivered the clutch hit in the four run sixth inning lacing a two-run double knocking in Connors and Cesar Gomez leadoff walks to tie things at 4-4. Hayden Oviatt gave Barton the lead back for good with the go-ahead groundout scoring Tate Blasi's hit-by-pitch before Kyle Graves sacrifice fly tacked on an insurance run and 6-4 lead.

Starting pitcher Anthony Treto earned a no-decision working the opening five innings. The sophomore allowed six hits, three runs with two walks and three strikeouts.

Kiernan Meredith (1-0) collected his first collegiate win in relief going one-inning scattering two hits, one run, on a walk and strikeout.

Preston Golden closed the door notching his first save tossing a scoreless seventh.

Walker paced Barton's offense generating two of his four hits over the twinbill finishing 2-for-3 at the dish with two-RBIs, a double and run scored as the Cougars were outhit for the third straight game 8-6. 

Game 2 Recap
Trailing 4-0 and stranding six base runners over the opening four innings, the first of three Gomez RBIs in the nightcap halted the Cougars 0-for-5 stretch with runners in scoring position lacing an opposite field single bringing in one of Janssen's three hits in the nightcap cutting the deficit to 4-1.

Continuing to chip away, Oviatt's one-out walk in the bottom of the sixth initiated three straight reaching with Graves single ensuing setting up a Janssen two-run double drawing Barton back within one, 4-3.

Heading back out for the seventh inning, starting pitcher Antonio Mendez worked around a leadoff walk before concluding his day on the mound with his sixth strikeout in the no-decision effort.

The Cougars needed just two batters to draw even in the bottom of the seventh with Gomez groundout scoring Connors leadoff triple.

Maintaining the momentum, Janssen's third hit of the day lacing a double to right field pushed Barton in front scoring Graves leadoff single before back-to-back two-out run producing double by Connors and Gomez single extended the lead to 7-4.

Cloud County would add a run in the ninth and later put the tying run at the plate as a two-out Barton error extended the frame before fielder's choice dampened any further T-Bird rally attempt.

Landon Haines (2-0) collected the victory in relief, going the final two innings yielding two hits, one run with one walk.

Offensively six different Cougars turned in multi-hit games as Barton outhit Cloud County 15-9 led behind Janssen and Connors 3-for-5 afternoons with each legging out two extra base hits.

Janssen and Gomez led the RBI production each driving in three runs.